Mass Effect 2 (May contain spoilers)

[Original Alear]

I just finished today.

The first time through the final mission I lost Tali (b/c I made Zaeed lead the first time) and Thane (he lead the other team the second time). I was femshep vanguard and had a romance with Thane that IMO was pretty neat.

I redid the final mission and didn't lose anyone. My pics were tali on vents and garrus leading the other team the first time. Then Samara doing biotics and miranda leading the second time. It doesn't matter who escorts the crew members but I had grunt do it.

Its also been made clear that if shepard dies in ME2, you'll play as a whole new person in ME3. So, go in prepared.

Clarification on this:

Part of what makes the final mission dangerous in a more profound way is that each squad member could potentially die a real, story-based death during that mission as well. You might have an ending where Shepard’s entire team survives, or where the entire mission is a bloodbath and everyone (including Shepard) is killed, or anything in between. And for all characters, death in Mass Effect 2 means they won’t show up in Mass Effect 3.

....

If you die in the end but in retrospect you really wish you had lived, you can of course go back to a savegame from before you attempted the final mission. From there you can make the improvements required to survive and continue your character into the next game.

This seems to strongly imply that you will not be able to transfer data. If you can play as "a Shepherd but not your Shepherd" it seems extremely likely that you can't transfer at all to Mass Effect 3.

[Don Draper]

This seems to strongly imply that you will not be able to transfer data. If you can play as "a Shepherd but not your Shepherd" it seems extremely likely that you can't transfer at all to Mass Effect 3.

Nope, one of the loading screen messages is "Transfer your saves to Mass Effect 3! If you survive..."

Importing your character is confirmed, and I'll find the 1 million interviews its mentioned in if you want.

[Phoenix]

Getting through the game with everyone alive is actually quite easy. Here's how...

Step 1: Get all three relevant upgrades. Obvious, no?

Step 2: When you have to decide who does what, listen to what Miranda says. She pretty much tells you who to take. If she says tech expert, pick Tali or Legion. If she says squad leader, pick her, Garrus, or Jakob. If she says biotic, pick Samara, or Jack.

Step 3: Always send Mordin back with the survivors, he'll get killed otherwise.

Step 4: Loyalty. You'd better have it.

And that's how I saved my Tali!

(Is it me, or do a lot of the Quarians, Tali included, have Russian accents? )

Shepard only seems to die if there is noone left to help him up at the end of the mission. That kinda takes the danger out of the mission for him.

As long as just one other person survives, so does Shepard...

I kinda hoped they'd find a way around that, like maybe taking too long to kill the reaper would cause Shepard to die. Hell took me more than "ten minutes" to kill that thing when I didn't have the "cain" and armor upgrades :(

[Shamanx21]

I picked Grunt instead of Mordin. I figured since he had the Krogan armor upgrade and the shot gun, he'd do best on his own.

[Original Alear]

Nope, one of the loading screen messages is "Transfer your saves to Mass Effect 3! If you survive..."

Importing your character is confirmed, and I'll find the 1 million interviews its mentioned in if you want.

My post was specifically in the context of:

Its also been made clear that if shepard dies in ME2, you'll play as a whole new person in ME3. So, go in prepared.

Sorry for sounding a little general in my post, but I was just saying that you can't transfer if shep doesn't survive. Not that you can't transfer if he does.

[Original Alear]

Nope, one of the loading screen messages is "Transfer your saves to Mass Effect 3! If you survive..."

Importing your character is confirmed, and I'll find the 1 million interviews its mentioned in if you want.

My post was specifically in the context of:

Its also been made clear that if shepard dies in ME2, you'll play as a whole new person in ME3. So, go in prepared.

Sorry for sounding a little general in my post, but I was just saying that you can't transfer if shep doesn't survive. Not that you can't transfer if he does.

[Phoenix]

I picked Grunt instead of Mordin. I figured since he had the Krogan armor upgrade and the shot gun, he'd do best on his own.

I know it really doesn't matter who goes back with the crew, but it's safer for me(and apparently a few other gamers) to send him back to the ship, since he's not the best choice for the final party, and he can sometimes die in the final part of the mission.

If it was a movie, I'm positive Mordin would be the one going back to the ship. Zaeed would probably die too for some reason. He seems like the type that dies doing something that saves everybody else. Thane too.

[Original Alear]

I know it really doesn't matter who goes back with the crew, but it's safer for me(and apparently a few other gamers) to send him back to the ship, since he's not the best choice for the final party, and he can sometimes die in the final part of the mission.

If it was a movie, I'm positive Mordin would be the one going back to the ship. Zaeed would probably die too for some reason. He seems like the type that dies doing something that saves everybody else. Thane too.

Nah...Zaeed's stories include things like "ya I was on this badass mission once with 5 other dudes and I was the only survivor."

[Shamanx21]

I don't know if Zaeed can die...I never got his loyalty and he survived. The only one who died last time for me was Jack, for whom I was not on good terms with, lol.

Mordin is severely underrated. He can hold his own quite well and is useful as hell on higher difficulties where Biotics are nerfed. Despite all that, Grunt is probably the one that can hold his own the best since his personal skill grants him uber durability and his bonuses give him much more of it. His regeneration rate is also very good.

If Mordin were to go back to the ship (if they were to make a movie out of it) it'd be because Grunt would have a much larger fan base. Americans love teh bad asses.

[Phoenix]

Nah...Zaeed's stories include things like "ya I was on this badass mission once with 5 other dudes and I was the only survivor."

Obi Wan had that same story about being the only Jedi survivor, but he got owned before the end of the first movie. He learned much from Qui-"Gone".

I don't know if Zaeed can die...I never got his loyalty and he survived. The only one who died last time for me was Jack, for whom I was not on good terms with, lol.

Mordin is severely underrated. He can hold his own quite well and is useful as hell on higher difficulties where Biotics are nerfed. Despite all that, Grunt is probably the one that can hold his own the best since his personal skill grants him uber durability and his bonuses give him much more of it. His regeneration rate is also very good.

If Mordin were to go back to the ship (if they were to make a movie out of it) it'd be because Grunt would have a much larger fan base. Americans love teh bad asses.

Well of course. Grunt is like Wrex, only young and impressionable. Sending him back to the ship would be as stupid as if Shepard had gone back himself... in a movie anyway.

By the way, wanna kill Zaeed? Here's how:

Pick Zaeed as either one of the team captains, or take him and another unloyal person with you to kill the reaper child. He's bound to get offed before the mission that way. Or you could send him back with the survivors. If he's unloyal, he will likely die along with them, not that I endorse crew sacrifice. Those guys are cool.

[Shamanx21]

Grunt is the shit. Though...I do have a feeling they would ruin his character in a movie. Well I guess it depends on who directs it. I know J.J. Abrams would make it look all kool and stuff, but like, could you imagine Michael Bay getting his hands on it? Worst day ever....if it really happened, lol.

I wonder if Zaeed is important enough to even be mentioned in ME3, or make a comeback...maybe hired by someone else to kill you :X dum dum DUM!

[Phoenix]

Grunt is the shit. Though...I do have a feeling they would ruin his character in a movie. Well I guess it depends on who directs it. I know J.J. Abrams would make it look all kool and stuff, but like, could you imagine Michael Bay getting his hands on it? Worst day ever....if it really happened, lol.

I wonder if Zaeed is important enough to even be mentioned in ME3, or make a comeback...maybe hired by someone else to kill you :X dum dum DUM!

Big bad Zaeed in ME3, gunning for Shepard? Please... I punched him in the face during the loyalty mission and he didn't do a damn thing about it. I'm not worried.

If Michael bay got his hands on ME, there would be a serious lack of retroactive continuity. Too much for me to enjoy the movie, no matter how big the explosions are.

[Shamanx21]

I didn't punch Zaeed, but he IS a merc and maybe if you DID punch him then maybe revenge would be a personal bonus, no? I mean, he's been chasing the same guy for what, 20 years? lol

[Phoenix]

I didn't punch Zaeed, but he IS a merc and maybe if you DID punch him then maybe revenge would be a personal bonus, no? I mean, he's been chasing the same guy for what, 20 years? lol

Yeah but Vido shot him in the head after turning his own men on him.

And Vido was just a wimp. If Zaeed goes after Shepard, what do you thinks going to happen to him?

[Candlejack]

So yeah I'm playing through this again and have realized some... idiotic pieces of dialogue.

Namely the gaping plot hole when

Your entire crew leaves the ship in a 4-person shuttle while your ship, UNDEFENDED, is testing the IFF.

Also there is going to be a new squad mate named Kasumi. Master thief found on the citadel with an incredible like for ramen.

There are actually videos of YouTube about her getting sent through the vents and getting WTFSHOT

Although that is probably because she wasn't loyal because her loyalty mission never existed yet.

Also, I've figured out which classes are the best to worst, in order:

Sentinel- Tech Armor plus being able to strip down every layer of defense is just balls. Godly defense makes up for a meh offense.

Infiltrator- Cloak is awesome and so is the Widow Rifle. Access to Overload AND Squad Cryo Ammo is awesome too.

Vanguard- Is better at killing enemies than the above two, with Heavy Charge/Shockwave/etc. Problem is that this guy pretty much relies on close quarters combat to win, and on Insanity... yeesh.

Soldier- Access to every gun + every ammo type is good. However... unless you spec him with Warp Ammo, he'll have trouble against Barriers, and since those are prevalent in pretty much 99% of endgame... Well, that and he doesn't have any active powers outside of Concussive Shit- oh I meant Shot.

Engineer- Weak offense + weak power isn't good. Luckily, it gets points for absolutely RAPING protections with Overload/Incinerate/etc. It has problems against Barriers, but then again, so does every non-biotic class. This one just has... more problems to worry about.

Adept- I KNOW RIGHT? Purely biotic supergod BOTTOM? Well, simple; it rapes unprotected enemies... UNPROTECTED enemies, A.K.A, the same mooks you can take down in one or two seconds of gunfire. Not to mention a rather mediocre class move that is only GOOD when upgraded (Unlike Tech Armor/Charge) and a lack of offensive and defensive prowess.

Also thought out who is the best teammates:

Miranda- She is the ONLY teammate in the game who is able to flawlessly strip down enemy defenses for you to finish, bar none. Any complaints about her can be immediately rebuffed just by MENTIONING how invaluable she is during Insanity missions such as Horizon and Purgatory. Not to mention DAT ASS and a class ability that benefits the ENTIRE squad. Oh, and DAT ASS

Grunt- Crazy son of a bitch is also the most durable son of a bitch. Just make sure he is assigned to Assault Rifles; squad A.I. have a tendency to rush enemies with shotguns equipped, and on Insanity, that doesn't end well EVER. Either way, his class bonuses + Fortification + Krogan regeneration = godly tank, which might be something your squad is missing.

Everyone else either isn't really worth mentioning or blows epic chunks; I'm looking at you, Jacob and Jack. Jacob is just blargh; it's either shotguns or pistols with him, and lolFire bullets and lolPull are pretty much worthless when you can just shoot them and be done with it. Jack is a little worse since she tends to rush even MORE than Grunt but doesn't have the tanking ability nor the regeneration. She gets points for offering Warp Ammo, AKA the best ammo type in the game.

EDIT:

And Vido was just a wimp. If Zaeed goes after Shepard, what do you thinks going to happen to him?

To Shepard or Zaeed?

Because if its the former, he'll be fine.

If it's the latter... not so much.

I am also astounded by how moronic the Council is for still failing to realize the Reapers actually exist. Sort of the reason why I kept the base intact so I can pretty much wag my human wang in their faces. Especially that Turian asshole.

God I hope I can shoot him.

[Phoenix]

So yeah I'm playing through this again and have realized some... idiotic pieces of dialogue.

Namely the gaping plot hole when

Your entire crew leaves the ship in a 4-person shuttle while your ship, UNDEFENDED, is testing the IFF.

EDIT:

To Shepard or Zaeed?

Because if its the former, he'll be fine.

If it's the latter... not so much.

I am also astounded by how moronic the Council is for still failing to realize the Reapers actually exist. Sort of the reason why I kept the base intact so I can pretty much wag my human wang in their faces. Especially that Turian asshole.

God I hope I can shoot him.

You can turn a four person shuttle into a twelve person shuttle if you pull the Mexican squeezing stereotype and have half the people sit on someone else's lap.

Tali gets to sit on mine

The council... damn them to hell

If I let them die, I get to knock out Al-Jawhat'shername in the interview, but the human council is a no show.

If I save them, I've got to watch that Turian bastard wave his hands while I bite my lip. The reapers don't exist? Sovereign/Nazara gave you the courtesy of an in person ass kicking and you still won't acknowledge him?! Damn! <_<

[Candlejack]

I figure they'd cut you some slack while playing ME1 if you saved them. Whatever, as long as I am a Spectre, it works out for me.

Unless I killed them and put Udina up for Councilor status. Although that's mostly to keep Anderson from a worse life.

And Legion gets to sit on my lap.

What? There are 1184 programs in there, one of them is BOUND to be female/male.

Not to mention he is probably better than every single female romance option, with Jacob being a cardboard box, Thane being a lame copypasted assassin type, and Garrus being a much better friend than lover.

Well, I guess Kelly is good too.

[Phoenix]

I figure they'd cut you some slack while playing ME1 if you saved them. Whatever, as long as I am a Spectre, it works out for me.

Unless I killed them and put Udina up for Councilor status. Although that's mostly to keep Anderson from a worse life.

And Legion gets to sit on my lap.

What? There are 1184 programs in there, one of them is BOUND to be female/male.

Not to mention he is probably better than every single female romance option, with Jacob being a cardboard box, Thane being a lame copypasted assassin type, and Garrus being a much better friend than lover.

Well, I guess Kelly is good too.

I thought it was 1,183

I think, that the closest Legion can get to having a gender is to add a human interface like EDI has, but that would just complicate things. Besides, Legion's a better sniper than romance partner anyway. Same with Thane, Garrus, Zaeed lol... Zaeed... romance partner... LMAO!!!! That'll be the day.

Oh! And what's this I hear about a Kasumi? Is she cute? For the love of Gravure idols tell me she's cute! :o

[Candlejack]

She is rather... bland...

D:

[Phoenix]

She is rather... bland...

D:

Meh, it's hard to compete with Miranda when she's standing right there

[Candlejack]

You spelled Jacob and him wrong.

[Shamanx21]

Meh, it's hard to compete with Miranda when she's standing right there

Miranda is amazing <3

so, this kasumi chick...? Is she really gonna be available via DLC?

[Candlejack]

Miranda is amazing <3

so, this kasumi chick...? Is she really gonna be available via DLC?

She will.

Eventually. The next DLC is featuring the Hammerhead and I THINK a new weapon.